Arizona State hopes to improve football game-day experience

by Doug Haller - Jul. 6, 2012 05:24 PMThe Republic | azcentral.com

A top priority within the Arizona State athletic department: improving the game-day experience. In the past, on most Saturdays, the atmosphere surrounding ASU football has, well, lacked a significant buzz.

That no longer may be the case.

ASU is considering several changes. Some will take root this season; some might take root next season. To try to change the culture, the athletic department has worked with the Disney Institute for the past three months. The institute has had breakout sessions with senior staff and managers (that one lasted 21/2 days). Soon, it will train 500 game-day employees.

First-year coach Todd Graham is involved. He believes college football's game-day experience is an important element in recruiting. He has thrown out several ideas and has met with just about everyone involved, including ASU's mascot coordinator and band director.

"What he's trying to do is a microcosm of what we're trying to do with the department," said Rocky Harris, senior associate athletics director for communications for Sun Devil athletics. "He wants to create a football culture, and he knows a big part of that is the game-day experience."

Among the considerations and developments:

Fans have said they would like grassy areas for tailgating, so grass will be put down in the desert arboretum inside Sun Devil Club Plaza, which will help cool the area and give children a place to play.

ASU's traditional pregame walk into the stadium will go through Wells Fargo Arena, where students and fans can escape the heat before kickoff. The band will play. Players will carry miniature footballs they can hand out to children. The team likely will be dressed the same. Graham's threads of choice: gold blazers.

Graham wants the entire student section moved to the lower bowl of Sun Devil Stadium. (Students sit in the lower bowl now, but the spillover stretches into the upper level.) This won't happen this season because more time is required to move around fans. But it could happen next year. A possibility: allowing students to sit in the end zone, above the Pat Tillman Memorial Tunnel.

Music will become a key part of the game. "Wild Thing" will be played for ASU kickoffs. The theme from "Jaws" will be played when opponents punt. "Hells Bells" is the choice when opponents face third down and, "Take It to the House" will blare when ASU lines up for kickoff returns.

Graham wants former ASU players to line up outside the locker room, leading through the Tillman Tunnel.

"His whole point is while you're walking down the tunnel, you're seeing history," Harris said. "You're seeing who's been there before."

Graham wants to be involved in the production of this year's team intro video.

ASU is also expected to let fans and students pick uniform combinations for certain games.

"We're trying to figure out a plan ... that can live for a long time," said Harris, adding that it might take a season to see what works. "We need some consistency for our fans."